Yesterday Jake my beloved companion for the past twelve and half years died. It all happened so quickly. He collapsed at home. When we got him to the Vet it was obvious little could be done , so we mercifully put him to sleep. He had a happy life and only that morning he had enjoyed his walk to Swan Lane Open Space. Jake was a rescue dog twice over. His previous owner a young girl died of anorexia.

Jake had the distinction of once riding in the Mayoral Limousine during my term as Mayor. Some one once warned that if you give your heart to your dog he will break it, So true.

Lord Byron must have had his heart broken when his Newfoundland Dog Boatswain died. How moving is his tribute to the humble dog. “When some proud son of man returns to earth, Unknown to glory, but upheld by birth, The sculptor's art exhausts the pomp of woe And storied urns record who rest below: When all is done, upon the tomb is seen, Not what he was, but what he should have been: But the poor dog, in life the firmest friend, The first to welcome, foremost to defend, Whose honest heart is still his master's own, Who labours, fights, lives, breathes for him alone, Unhonour'd falls, unnoticed all his worth-- Denied in heaven the soul he held on earth: While Man, vain insect! hopes to be forgiven, And claims himself a sole exclusive Heaven.

Oh Man! thou feeble tenant of an hour, Debased by slavery, or corrupt by power, Who knows thee well must quit thee with disgust, Degraded mass of animated dust!

Thy love is lust, thy friendship all a cheat, Thy smiles hypocrisy, thy words deceit!

By nature vile, ennobled but by name, Each kindred brute might bid thee blush for shame.

Ye! who perchance behold this simple urn, Pass on--it honours none you wish to mourn: To mark a Friend's remains these stones arise; I never knew but one,--and here he lies. [i] Newstead Abbey, October 30, 1808.

[Footnote 1: This monument is placed in the garden of Newstead.

A prose inscription precedes the verses:-- "Near this spot Are deposited the Remains of one Who possessed Beauty without Vanity, Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, And all the Virtues of Man without his Vices."

RIP Jake